Consultant

McKinley advisors is an award-winning association consulting firm providing tailored research and strategy services to solve the unique challenges of mission-driven organizations. The work the McKinley team delivers is consequential. Our clients have a direct impact on society, from improving healthcare outcomes to creating a more sustainable future for our planet and its people. We take that responsibility seriously.

Our team is composed of amazing individuals, each with a rich and diverse background and all sharing a commitment to deliver exceptional client experiences. McKinley advisors has been recognized as a "Best Places to Work" by the Washington Business Journal.

Job Description

The consultant role is central to how McKinley transforms complex organizational challenges into actionable strategies for mission-driven organizations. Working across strategy and innovation, organization excellence, and business transformation engagements, consultants partner with clients and colleagues to develop data-informed recommendations that address the most pressing business challenges. Consultants are curious problem solvers who bring strategic thinking, thoughtful facilitation, analytical rigor and sound judgment to every engagement. Our engagements cover a multitude of association opportunities from membership dues modeling, strategic planning, governance modernization, revenue diversification, and organizational assessments. As such, consultants have unique visibility and access into a diversity of business needs and stakeholders across the association landscape, ensuring every day is dynamic and varied.

Consultants at McKinley thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments where client priorities, organizational cultures, and project needs continually evolve. They independently and proactively lead significant project workstreams while partnering closely with senior team members responsible for overall engagement strategy and client outcomes. Consultants contribute to a wide array of deliverables, from client interviews, focus groups and facilitations, to executive ready presentations, helping clients explore challenges, clarify priorities, and build alignment. They translate complex information into actionable recommendations while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to help clients move confidently from insight to action. They also strengthen McKinley's consulting capabilities by sharing knowledge, contributing to evolving methodologies, and add to a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Who you are, and what this looks like:

• A clear communicator and relationship builder. You are comfortable and confident engaging with a variety of professionals, from CEOs and volunteers to project managers and focus groups of staff members. You naturally weave curiosity and empathy into client discussions, while conveying professional presence, strategic thinking and business acumen.
• A strong collaborator and reliable contributor who partners effectively in a highly matrixed environment, across different client project teams, practice areas and concurrent client engagements. You are focused and organized, trusted for keeping up with different client and colleague needs. You are known for being highly responsive and proactively following up with colleagues and clients in a timely manner. Your deliverables reflect close coordination with the rest of your team, not just your own effort.
• A strategic problem solver. You naturally connect information across interviews, research, financial analysis, and stakeholder perspectives to uncover meaningful patterns. You codify client needs and synthesize findings into executive-ready presentations with compelling visual narratives. In partnership with team members, your work in both verbal and written delivery translate complex, interwoven details into actionable recommendations.
• A trusted professional, who exercises sound judgement. You know when to seek guidance, when to make decisions independently, and how to balance competing client needs, project priorities, and organizational dynamics. You are trusted for your judgment because you consistently approach challenges thoughtfully, professionally, and with integrity.
• A contributor to internal innovation and continuous improvement. You contribute ideas that improve how McKinley delivers its services. Whether strengthening facilitation techniques, refining templates, or sharing lessons learned across projects, you help our consulting practice continually evolve.
• A respected colleague with a strong track record of consistently delivering excellent results, meeting deadlines and upholding McKinley values. You model high expectations and performance by persistently creating valuable results for the firm and our clients. Colleagues know and trust you will deliver high-quality work, provide proactive follow-up with clients and teammates, and deliver on commitments in a timely manner.

What You Will Do:

Project Delivery and Client Service (~90%)

• Participate in client calls and discussions, which may include facilitating small group sessions and/or focus groups.
• Independently manage workstreams or phases within multiple concurrent client engagements, working closely with other team members. This may be conducting client interviews, planning for facilitation sessions, co-leading focus groups or preparing deliverables.
• Communicate proactively with internal and client teams about project updates, upcoming action items and meetings, and deliverable development to ensure there is shared understanding and transparency across all team members.
• Proactively meet timelines and deliverables across the project team, supporting scope adjustments and deadlines as priorities shift.
• Translate research findings or client challenges into clear narratives, identifying themes, opportunities, and recommendations.
• Draft and review client deliverables in partnership with the project team, ensuring analytical rigor and alignment with client objectives.
• Draw on association industry knowledge and the McKinley network to advise clients on strategic and operational challenges.

Services Development and Knowledge Management (~10%)

• Contribute to McKinley’s knowledge base (templates, frameworks, sample deliverables) to strengthen consistency across engagements
• Identify and contribute to evolving methods, tools, or formats that improve facilitation and client deliverables
• Actively participate in McKinley’s vibrant and innovative culture

Basic Qualifications:

• 3-6 years of professional experience, ideally in consulting, research, or a related field
• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience)
• Demonstrated experience leading workstreams as part of a broader team on multi-phase projects
• Excellent business writing and presentation development skills
• Comfort participating in client-facing meetings and public speaking in small and large group settings
• Comfort working in a highly matrixed environment, coordinating across multiple teams, practice areas, and concurrent engagements
• Persistent learner, demonstrating curiosity by continually learning about associations, emerging business challenges, methodologies and industry trends
• Advanced proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• High level of attention to detail, organization, and time management
• Availability for occasional business travel (up to 20%)
• Knowledge of associations strongly preferred

Work Environment

• McKinley advisors is a fast-paced, high-energy firm with a highly collaborative and innovative culture. This job will experience high work demands under tight timelines requiring a flexible and adaptable approach to daily priorities.
• This position is primarily sedentary and there will be long periods in front of the computer, possibly standing and sitting for extended periods.
• Work is conducted in a hybrid environment, with the expectation that the consultant will come to the Washington DC office or Chicago office several days a week.
• Travel may be requested, based on client needs, and up to 20% travel.

 
We consider several factors when determining compensation, including a candidate's recent coursework, training, experience, and certifications, among other considerations. The expected pay for this role is $80,000-$85,000.

Equal Employment Opportunity
At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other protected status designated by federal, state or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on position.

Smithbucklin will not sponsor applicants for work visas and as a precondition of employment. You must be authorized to work in the United States permanently.